No-tilt christmas tree stand

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a nontilting Christmas tree stand or the like which includes a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of the base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing the lower end portions of each support to the base, and second means for removably securing the upper end portions of each support to an associated tree. The first means are preferably in the form of a plurality of tabs formed in the base or in a plate sandwiched between the base and the support lower end portions which engage in slots formed in the support lower end portions. The second means are simply openings in the support upper end portions which receive nails, screws or the like and/or an adjustable clamping band which exteriorly surrounds the support upper end portions. Moreover, to impart stability to the stand the same is provided with outriggers or feet which are likewise interlockingly secured to the base by tabs and slots with the outriggers having arms which pass through openings formed in a peripheral reinforcing bead of the base in one embodiment of the invention.

United States Patent [19] Rocquin 145 1 May 15, 1973 [54] NO-TILT CHRISTMAS TREE STAND Primary ExaminerWilliam H. Schultz [76] Inventor: Camile J. Rocquin, 6011 Airline Atmmey Dna|d wight at Highway, Metairie, La. 70001 i [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 28, 1971 This dlsclosure relates to a nontilting Chr1stmas tree PP 157,311 stand or the like which includes a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of the base, each 52 us. 01.; ..248/48, 248/174, 248/188.7 P having and lower end [51 1 Int. Cl. ..A47g 33/12 first means removably Securmg the lower end Pomons [58] Field of Search ..287/189.36 H; the base and means 248l444648 167 174 188.7 346 removably securmg the upper end portions of each support to an associated tree. The first means are [56] References Cited preferably in the form of a plurality of tabs formed in the base or in a plate sandwiched between the base UNITED STATES PATENTS and the support lower end portions which engage in slots formed in the support lower end portions. The

820,511 5/1906 Marten ..248/346 X t 923,206 6/1909 Singleton ..248/48 Second s l the Support 1,150,455 8/1915 Rudolph etal..... .287/187.36 H l h 1,319,481 0/1919 Mahon like and/or an ad ustable clamping band WhlCh exteri- 1,695,275 12/1928 Davis ..24s 4s Orly /fi Support PP end Portions- 2,250,361 7/1941 Cullinan ..248/48 UX Moreover, to impart stability to the stand the same is 2,444,390 6/1948 White ..248/48 provided with Outriggers or feet which are likewise in- 2,485,081 10/1949 Ahre r1s.... ..248/46 terlockingly secured to the base by tabs and slots with Raskm H X the utriggers having arms pass through 2:3; 1 -3334 openings formed in a peripheral reinforcing bead of the base in one embodiment of the invention.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAT NTEB' 3.733.040

SHEET 1 [IF 2 CAMILLE J. ROQUIN ATTORNEYS PATENTEBHAY 1 5 I973 SHEET 2 BF 2 CAMILLE J. ROQUIN A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel stand for Christmas trees or the like which includes a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of the base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing the lower end portions of each support to the base, second means removably securing the upper end portions of each support to an associated tree, and the first means being in the form of interlocked tabs and slots of the supports and the base.

In accordance with a further object of this invention,

the tabs and slots are preferably formed in pairs with the tabs being formed in the base and projecting upwardly therefrom for interlocking engagement with pairs of slots in the support lower end portions.

In an alternate form of the invention, another object is to provide the first means in the form of an independent plate adapted for sandwiched securement between each lower support end portion and each plate includes at least one or more of the tabs associated for receipt within a like number of openings formed in the support lower end portions. I

In keeping with a further object of this invention, the stand preferably includes outrigger means for stabilizing the base, the outrigger means including arms receivable through openings formed in a peripheral reinforcing bead surrounding the base with the outriggers and base preferably being interlockingly secured together by means of locking tabs and slots.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a top perspective view of a novel stand for Christmas trees or the like constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a base stabilized by four outriggers, four supports having slotted lower end portions secured to the base by pairs of bent tabs, and upper end portions of the base secured to and supporting a tree by means of fasteners passed through openings of each support and an exteriorly expandable and contractable clamping band.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view of a portion of the stand of FIG. 1 prior to being assembled, and illustrates the manner in which tabs are bent upwardly from the plane of the base for passage through openings of one of the supports, and the manner in which an outrigger is passed through an opening in the reinforced pe ripheral head of the base incident to being secured thereto by a cooperative tab and either of a pair of slots formed in the outrigger or stabilizing foot.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken gen erally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and illustrates the manner in which one of the feet or outriggers is interlockingly secured to the base.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. I, and illustrates the manner in which a nail or similar fastening device is driven through the underside of the base and tree to assist in maintaining the same in assembled relationship.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 1, and illustrates the manner in which the supports are formed of a generally downwardly opening V-shaped cross-sectional configuration to rigidify the stand.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view looking upwardly at one of the comers of the stand, and illustrates the manner in which the outriggers or feet and the supports are secured to the base by interlocked tabs and slots.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another stand constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates the manner in which the stand is constructed from as large a piece of wooden material or the like with the four supports of the stand of FIG. 1. being adapted to be secured thereto by intervening plates provided with tabs adapted for securement to the slots of the supports.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary exploded view of one of the corners of the stand of FIG. 7, and illustrates the manner in which each plate is first secured to the base prior to the tabs being passed through the openings of the supports and bent to interlock the components to each other. V

A novel stand for Christmas trees or the like is best illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The stand 10 includes a base 11 which is shown to be of a generally polygonal or rectangular configuration, although the particular outer contour of the periphery thereof is of no consequence insofar as this invention is concerned. However, it will be noted that an upper surface 12 of the base 11 is set off into generally four triangular panels 13 through 16 by virtue of bend lines 17 through 20 which extend from each corner (unnumbered) of the base 11 toward but terminate short of a central circular portion 21 (FIG. 4) having an axial aperture 22. The triangular panels 13 through 16 thus impart a gradually upwardly and inwardly inclined contour to the base 11 such that except under extreme loads, as would result if an extremely heavy tree were supported thereby, the support of the base 11 is affected substantially entirely through a peripheral reinforcing bead 23 thereof which is curled downwardly and inwardly, as is best illustrated in FIG. 3. However, at four points each of which is generally equidistant between two comers, the reinforcing bead 23 is provided with openings. or slots 24 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to receive outriggers or stabilizing feet 25.

The outriggers or stabilizing feet 25 are each of a generally T-shaped configuration as viewed in top plan and are defined by a relatively elongated leg 26 having slots 27 and a cross arm 28 having adhesively orotherwise secured to alower surface (unnumbered) thereof a cushion 30 of rubber or some other conventional nonmarring and low friction-like material. Edges (unnumbered) of the openings 24 cooperate with edges, (also unnumbered) of the legs 26 to assure that the legs 26 are accurately guided through the openings 24 with the slots 27 in alignment with a tab 31 which is bent downwardly and then outwardly against the underside (unnumbered) of the leg 26, as is best illustrated in FIG. 3, to assure that the leg is sec ured'in a stabilized condition relative to the base 11. It should be noted that if the outrigger 25 isto be positioned further away from the reinforcing bead 23, it is simply necessary to withdraw the tab 31 from the position shown in FIG. 3, slide the outrigger 25 outwardly until the next slot 27 is in general alignment with the tab 31, and then fold the tab 31 once again to the position shown in FIG.3.

In this manner, the Outriggers or stabilizing feet 25 are accurately positioned with either of the slots 27 interlocked with the tab 31 and, depending upon which of the slots 27 is employed, the particular spacing of the outriggers 25 and particularly the arms 28 thereof with respect to the perimeter of the base 11 can be adjustably controlled.

Associated with the base 11 of the stand are three supports or legs 32 through 35 having identical lower end portions 36 and upper end portions 37. Each of the supports 32 through 35 is of a generally V-shaped cross section opening in a downward direction, the purpose of which is to mate the cross-sectional configuration of the lower end portions 36 with the cross-sectional configuration of each adjoining panel as, for example, the V-shaped cross section of the adjacent panels 14, (FIG. 2) and the apex thereof defined by the fold line 19 matches the cross-sectional configuration of the lower end portion 36 of the support 32. Accordingly, due to this matching cross section between the lower end portions 36 of the supports 32 through with respect to adjoining panels and each bend line 17 through 20, the supports are maintained in a stable condition and will not rock due to the weight of a tree T carried by the stand 10.

The supports 32 through 35 have at the lower end portions 36 thereof a pair of slots 38 which are aligned with and receive a pair of tabs 40 (FIG. 2) which can be deflected out of the plane of the base 11 (FIG. 2), passed through the openings 38, and then bent as shown in FIG. 1 to interlock the base 11 to each of the supports 32 through 35. Moreover, though both tabs 40, 41 and the slots 38, 38 at each fold or bend line 17 through 20 are shown in interlocked relationship, it is to be noted that by employing but one or the other of the tabs 40 at each bend line 17 through 20 and one or the other of the slots 38, the supports 32 through 35 can be moved one increment closer toward or one increment more removed from the center of the base 11, thus adapting the stand 10 to accommodate trees of different diameters more readily than heretofore available.

The upper end portions 37 of the legs 32 through 35 are secured to the tree T by one or both of two means, the first of which is simply an opening or slot 42 formed in the apex (unnumbered) of each upper end portion through which a nail or screw can be inserted to penetrate the trunk of the tree T. With or without the use of such fastening means a clamping band 43 may be positioned in exterior telescopic relationship to the upper end portions 37 of the supports 32 through 35 and by tightening a suitable bolt or screw 44 and an associated nut (not shown) the trunk of the tree T is readily secured and maintained in the position shown best in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7 of the drawings which illustrates another tree stand which, since similar to the stand 10, has been provided with the reference numeral 10 as have been all components similar to those heretofore described with respect to the stand 10. However, the stand 10' includes two notable differences from the stand 10, namely, a base 51 thereof and an identical metallic plate 52 sandwiched between an upper surface 53 of the base 51 and each lower end portion 36' of each support 32' through 35'. In this case it is to be appreciated that though the stand 10 of FIG. 1 can be formed in a variety of sizes to accommodate a variety of size trees, a stand could be purchased which might not be of the particular size desired, and thus in keeping with this invention, the base 11 may be eliminated and in lieu thereof the base 51 is provided which may be formed from wood or most any suitable material which can be cut to a particular size and shape desired. Obviously, for larger trees T' the base 51 is of a larger external peripheral dimension, while for smaller trees (not shown) the size of the base 51 might be reduced. With this in mind, it need be noted that upon securing each of the plates 52 at accurate positions relative to the base 51, each of the supports 32 through 35' can be utilized in the manner heretofore described relative to the stand 10. In this embodiment of the invention, each plate 52 is preferably provided with a pair of openings 54 through which may pass wood screws 55 or similar fastening devices for securing the plate 52 in sandwiched relationship between the upper surface 53 of the base 51 and each support lower end portion 36. In addition, each plate 52 has a pair of upwardly directed tabs 56 (FIG. 8) which pass through the openings 38' of the legs 32 through 35 and are bent down in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 7 to secure the supports 32' through 35 to the base 51. Nails or screws are then used to fasten the upper end portions 37 of the supports to the tree T through the openings 42'.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the components of the stand 10 are of a universal construction and though preferably arranged as indicated in FIG. 1, the base 11 thereof may be eliminated and the supports 32' through 35 utilized with any type base whatever by providing the intervening adapted plates 52.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A stand for Christmas trees or the like comprising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, second means removably securing said upper end portions of each support to an associated tree, said base includes a peripheral reinforcing bead, means defining openings through said bead, and outrigger means passed through said openings for stabilizing said base.

2. A stand for Christmas trees or the like comprising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, said first means being in the form of interlocked tabs and slots of said supports and base, said tabs and slots being formed at least in pairs associated with each support, said tabs are formed in said base and said openings are formed in said support lower end portions, outrigger means for stabilizing said base, second means removably securing each outrigger means to said base, said tabs project above and toward the center of said base, said outrigger means are of a generally T-shaped configuration, and said support lower end portions have a generally V-shaped transverse cross-section opening in a direction toward said base.

3. The stand as defined in claim 2 wherein said base at each portion thereof underlying said support lower end portions has a transverse cross-section mating said V-shaped transverse cross-section.

4. A stand for Christmas trees or the like comprising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, said support lower end portions have a generally V- shaped transverse cross-section opening in a direction toward said base, said base being defined by a plurality of panels each inclined in a direction inwardly and upwardly, adjacent pairs of said panels at portions thereof underlying said support lower end portions having a transverse cross-section mating said V-Shaped transverse cross-section thereby lending stability between the base and the supports thereof.

5. The stand as defined in claim 4 wherein said first removable securing means is located at each of said base panel portions.

6. The stand as defined in claim 5 wherein said first removable securing means are in the form of interlocked tabs and slots.'

7. The stand as defined in claim 6 wherein said tabs are struck from the material of said base panel portions.

8. A stand for Christmas trees or the like comprising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, said base opening concavely downwardly, outrigger means for stabilizing said base, said outrigger means being variably projectible beyond a periphery of said base, said outrigger means include a plurality of outriggers spaced from each other about said base periphery, each outrigger having a first end adapted for projection beyond said periphery for rest upon a support surface, and means holding a second end of each outrigger to said base and in a plane generally parallel thereto whereby said base may be adjustably tilted by varying the degree of projection of said outriggers beyond said periphery. 

1. A stand for Christmas trees or the like comprising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, second means removably securing said upper end portions of each support to an associated tree, said base includes a peripheral reinforcing bead, means defining openings through said bead, and outrigger means passed through said openings for stabilizing said base.
 2. A stand for Christmas trees or the like comprising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, said first means being in the form of interlocked tabs and slots of said supports and base, said tabs and slots being formed at least in pairs associated with each support, said tabs are formed in said base and said openings are formed in said support lower end portions, outrigger means for stabilizing said base, second means removably securing each outrigger means to said base, said tabs project above and toward the center of said base, said outrigger means are of a generally T-shaped configuration, and said support lower end portions have a generally V-shaped transverse cross-section opening in a direction toward said base.
 3. The stand as defined in claim 2 wherein said base at each portion thereof underlying said support lower end portions has a transverse cross-section mating said V-shaped transverse cross-section.
 4. A stand for Christmas trees or the like compRising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, said support lower end portions have a generally V-shaped transverse cross-section opening in a direction toward said base, said base being defined by a plurality of panels each inclined in a direction inwardly and upwardly, adjacent pairs of said panels at portions thereof underlying said support lower end portions having a transverse cross-section mating said V-Shaped transverse cross-section thereby lending stability between the base and the supports thereof.
 5. The stand as defined in claim 4 wherein said first removable securing means is located at each of said base panel portions.
 6. The stand as defined in claim 5 wherein said first removable securing means are in the form of interlocked tabs and slots.
 7. The stand as defined in claim 6 wherein said tabs are struck from the material of said base panel portions.
 8. A stand for Christmas trees or the like comprising a base, a plurality of supports carried by an upper surface of said base, each support having terminal upper and lower end portions, first means removably securing said lower end portions of each support to said base, said base opening concavely downwardly, outrigger means for stabilizing said base, said outrigger means being variably projectible beyond a periphery of said base, said outrigger means include a plurality of outriggers spaced from each other about said base periphery, each outrigger having a first end adapted for projection beyond said periphery for rest upon a support surface, and means holding a second end of each outrigger to said base and in a plane generally parallel thereto whereby said base may be adjustably tilted by varying the degree of projection of said outriggers beyond said periphery. 